Cyberattacks are on the rise and prevention is nearly impossible, security experts say
Global News
There's specifically been an increase in threats targeting front-line health-care and medical research facilities across the country throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, the Newfoundland and Labrador government confirmed that a cyberattack has crippled its health network’s data centre.
While officials are not giving further details, cybersecurity experts say it has all the markings of a ransomware attack which is designed to encrypt data, systems and servers and deny their use in an effort to extract an extortion payment in order for a user or organization to retrieve access to their systems.
“Cyberattacks are designed to disrupt three things: the confidentiality, the integrity or the availability of information,” said David Shipley, CEO of New Brunswick-based Beauceron Security.
“A ransomware attack is designed to disrupt all three, most impactfully on health care. You’re talking about the availability of systems and data, and health care runs on data nowadays.”
Newfoundland and Labrador has confirmed that the cyberattack has already caused the cancellation of thousands of medical appointments across the country.
Shipley says in most circumstances he would strongly advise against paying the ransom to retrieve data as it only encourages cyberattackers to keep using this method, but he says in this case it’s not so easy.
“I can’t give that advice when it comes to health care because we’re literally talking about the potential for life and death decisions on this information,” said Shipley.
The CEO also calls this attack one of the “most destructive and disruptive” attacks seen in Canada.
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